Puromycin is an antibiotic that is a protein synthesis inhibitor by inhibiting translation. Puromycin is used in cell biology as selective agent in cell culture systems. It is toxic to prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

Associated with ribosomes but is not required for canonical ribosome function and has extra-ribosomal functions. Component of the GAIT (gamma interferon-activated inhibitor of translation) complex which mediates interferon-gamma-induced transcript-selective translation inhibition in inflammation processes. Upon interferon-gamma activation and subsequent phosphorylation dissociates from the ribo...

Functions in the N-end rule pathway of protein degradation where it conjugates Leu, Phe and, less efficiently, Met from aminoacyl-tRNAs to the N-termini of proteins containing an N-terminal arginine or lysine.